The world's best women tennis players will converge on the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale Aug. 15-23 for the annual Pilot Pen tournament. Among the players who will compete for this year's crown will be Amelie Mauresmo of France, who is ranked No. 6 in the world.

Pilot Pen tournament features tennis and much more

The courts at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale will once again draw an international group of tennis "superstars" Aug. 15-23, when 20 of the world's top 30 players compete in the annual Pilot Pen Tennis tournament.

Tournament director Anne Worcester notes that the field also includes a group of "talented young players who have exploded onto the scene," including Svetlana Kuzentsova (No. 28), who reached the quarter finals at Wimbledon; Nadia Petrova (No. 25), who reached the semifinals at the French Open; and Vera Zvonareva, who upset Venus Williams at the French Open. All three women are from Russia.

Considered New England's premier women's sports entertainment event of the year, the Pilot Pen features a main draw of 28 singles players and 16 doubles teams. Qualifying rounds for players whose rankings are below 23rd take place Friday and Saturday, Aug. 15 and 16; main draw contests are Aug. 17-23. All events take place at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale, 45 Yale Ave.

A total of 13.5 hours of Pilot Pen Tennis action will be televised nationally on ESPN2, ESPN and CBS. The final round will be broadcast on the latter network 1-3 p.m. on Aug. 23.

Jazz at Pilot Pen

For the third straight year, tennis fans at the Pilot Pen tournament will be treated to live jazz by some of Connecticut's best-known jazz musicians. The concerts will take place Tuesday-Thursday, Aug. 19-21, 5:30-7 p.m. and 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 23. Featured performers are Kalim Zarif (with Lou West) on Aug. 19; the Morris Trent Band (with Ron Braggs) on Aug. 20; the Dona Carter Quartet on Aug. 21; and Giacomo Gates (with Tony Lombardozzi and Jessie Hameen) on Aug. 23.

Specials for the Yale community

On Wednesday, Aug. 20, which has been designated Schick® College Night, employees and students from Yale and other area colleges or universities can receive a special 33% savings on up to four middle-tier tickets by showing a valid I.D. at the gate. Spectators will receive special giveaways courtesy of Schick®.

In addition, Yale affiliates can purchase the discounted tickets for the Wednesday session in advance in the box office of the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale. Yale staff and students must show a valid I.D.

Yale affiliates are also invited to use the air-conditioned Humphrey Room in the University's Joel Smilow Field Center near the tennis stadium. Visitors can bring in food from the food court and purchase beverages from the cash bar that will be set up in the room. The Humphrey Room will be open Wednesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. and on Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. For more information, contact Rachel at the Pilot Pen office at (203) 781-5833.

A special deal on tickets is offered to Yale alumni attending the tournament. Alumni may purchase individual box seats for sessions 1-9 (Sunday-Thursday) for $50. Individual tickets for the semi-finals on Friday and the final round on Saturday are $70. Yale alumni who purchase these tickets will be offered special seating on the east sideline of the court in rows 10-16. In addition, Yale alumni have access to the Connecticut Tennis Center's Racquet Club, an air-conditioned restaurant reserved for week-long box-seat holders that offers a gourmet buffet catered by Carbone's Ristorante of Hartford. Buffet tickets for lunch are $25; $35 for dinner. For further information on these alumni offerings, contact Rachel at (203) 781-5833.

Other special events

Several other special events will take place during the tournament. On Comcast/ESPN Kids Day, children will be treated to music, court games and giveaways, and can meet with some of the players during autograph sessions. Ticket prices start at $6 and include admission to the day's matches. The first 1,000 children to arrive at the tournament will receive a special goody bag.

This will be followed by New Haven Register Night on Aug. 18, during which the first 1,000 spectators will receive a special giveaway. Aug. 19 has been designated USTA Member Appreciation Day/Night; USTA members will receive special ticket savings and have access to a VIP hospitality tent for this session. That evening has also been designated Girl Scout Night to allow all Girl Scouts to enjoy a private question-and-answer session with a World Tennis Association (WTA) player. Tickets are $7 and include the evening's matches.

Other designated specials include WTNH News Channel 8 Day on Aug. 20 (the first 1,000 spectators receive a free tote bag); and Ladies Day Luncheon & Fashion Show on Aug. 20, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. (featuring lunch in a private hospitality area and fashion show sponsored by Brooks Brothers; individual tickets are $95 and tables of six are $540). Michelob ULTRA Night, featuring a live music concert prior to the evening's semifinal matches, is on Friday, Aug. 22.

Week-long activities include a SportZone, an interactive area with games, contests and prizes for children and adults; a food court and pub; an Autograph Center in which WTA players will sign autographs; and daily giveaways at a variety of display booths.

Individual box seats range from $50 to $70. Middle-tier seats range from $12 to $30 for adults and $6 to $15 for children. Box seat and middle-tier packages, as well as group session tickets, are available.

For tickets or more information, call 888-99-PILOT or (203) 776-7331 or visit the tournament's website at www.pilotpentennis.com.